SurfSense
A private, open-source research notebook that runs on your own machine and turns sources into deliverables.
- A desktop app for Windows, macOS, and Linux that runs without an account.
- Local indexing, so sources and generated artifacts stay on the machine.
- A choice of local models or hosted providers, including OpenAI and Anthropic.
- Chat over indexed documents with citations and follow-up questions.
Best for: Lawyers, accountants, and consultants handling confidential documents. · Researchers and students working through a large source set. · Engineers and analysts who cannot upload files to a cloud service.
Introduction
SurfSense is an open-source research notebook that runs on your own computer. It indexes documents into a local database, answers questions with a local model or a provider key you supply, and turns those sources into presentations, reports, podcasts, quizzes, and other deliverables. No account is required, and the app can keep working with the network disconnected.
Key Features
- A desktop app for Windows, macOS, and Linux that runs without an account.
- Local indexing, so sources and generated artifacts stay on the machine.
- A choice of local models or hosted providers, including OpenAI and Anthropic.
- Chat over indexed documents with citations and follow-up questions.
- Artifact generation for slides, reports, podcasts, quizzes, mind maps, flashcards, and exports.
- Plugins for search, social, maps, marketplaces, and job sources, plus MCP servers.
- Open source with public code and self-build options.
Who is it for
- Lawyers, accountants, and consultants handling confidential documents.
- Researchers and students working through a large source set.
- Engineers and analysts who cannot upload files to a cloud service.
- Teams that need a private NotebookLM-style workspace.
What can you do with SurfSense
- Build a private notebook from PDFs, notes, and web sources.
- Ask questions and get answers grounded in the indexed material.
- Generate a slide deck, report, or briefing from the sources.
- Create a podcast, quiz, flashcards, or mind map for study.
- Pull in live results from search, YouTube, maps, or marketplaces with plugins.
- Export a deliverable as Markdown, Word, PDF, HTML, or a spreadsheet.
How does SurfSense work
- Download the installer for Windows, macOS, or Linux.
- Choose a local model or paste a provider API key on first launch.
- Add documents, links, and other sources to the local notebook.
- Ask questions and refine the sources the answers rely on.
- Generate an artifact such as slides, a report, or a podcast.
- Export the result or keep it in the local workspace.
Pricing
SurfSense lists a Free plan at $0, an Individual licence at $60 per year for the first year and $120 after that, and a custom Enterprise plan. The app and updates are free, while a licence adds the scraper plugins and priority support. Check the official website for current pricing and plan details.
FAQ
Is SurfSense free?
The app and its updates are free forever, with no account and no usage cap. A 30-day licence for the plugins comes with the app, and paid licences extend plugin access and support.
What does a paid licence add?
An Individual licence adds every scraper plugin, unlimited use, priority support, and one feature build request per year. The first year is $60, then it renews at $120.
Can SurfSense run offline?
Yes. With a local model, the app keeps answering questions about sources already indexed after the network is disconnected. Hosted model providers require a connection.
Which models can I use?
You can run local Qwen or Gemma models, or connect OpenAI, Anthropic, or another OpenAI-compatible provider with your own key.
Is SurfSense an alternative to NotebookLM?
It is a self-hosted research notebook with a similar source-grounded workflow, but it runs locally, requires no account, and lets you choose the model.
Does SurfSense need an account?
No. The app requires no sign-up, email, or workspace invite. A licence is sent by email, but the app itself runs without an account.
